MEETING OF FARMERS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1717, 25 January 1905, Page 58

MEETING OF FARMERS

A lai'gely attended meeting of farmers was held at Avondale (Auckland) recently. Mr Bluck was voted to the chair. Mr Harkor. of Mount Albert, convener, said they were there to ask for justice. Ho read a letter written by him to the '‘Star,” on the subject of the produce of the farmers being forced down to a price below the cost of production. Why should not the producers of the finest dairy and separator butter unite in fixing a minimum price at which their eggs, and butter should be sold, and refuse to sell lo or buy from an 3' grocer who sold below that price? The Dairy Association did it with thoir butter, the merchants with their packed teas. Say, a minimum retail price of Is per dozen for the eggs and 10d for the butter. Below these prices the producer could not live. Cooperation, not cut-throat competition, was the producers’ road to plenty'. Had not thoj'r great butter factories taught them that? Why did not. the farmers’ unions organise them? Then they' could speak to the merchants and the middlemen with no uncertain voice. In Canterbury the two great farmers’ associations did everything for the farmers, buying, selling, storing, advancing, etc., to their great advantage. Why could not Auckland do the same? Here the middlemen were killing the geese that laid them their golden eggs. The farmers’ wives depended on their egg and butter money for all their needs, and if their spending powers were curtailed, all alike suffered. He l'ead his correspondence Home by last ’Frisco mail, to induce egg and produce merchants with knowledge and capital to come and settle here, and open up new markets for the producers at profitable prices. Mr Harker concluded by moving the following resolution: "That this meeting of farmers and their friends request the Grocers' Association to discontinue the publication of their Dairy Produce Committee's weekly price list for butter and eggs, as being most prejudicial to the interests of the producers.” The motion was seconded by Mr Davidson and supported by Mr Allen and other producers. Mr Harker then placed the platform at the disposal of Mr A. J. Bntreican, who explained the action of the Daily' Produce Committee, and laid the blame on. the press, who, he said, insisted on being supplied with these reports, and concluded by moving an amendment, which the chairman said he was unable to accept.

Mr Harker replied, scouting the idea of the press being to blame. The Chairman then put the motion and declared it carried unanimously, amidst applause.